The Mystery of Life 
One day last September I took the noon hour study period enjo> ;ig 
the blooms on the early Chrysanthemums. Apparently the plants 
had not suffered from the prolonged summer drouth but had gotten 
enough moisture and plant food to develop a hardy and luxurious 
growth. 
I could not help thinking of the great mystery of life, how the soil, 
the air warmth, and sunlight and water combine in forming the re¬ 
quired materials for the growth of every living thing, plants sod 
the animals that feed upon the plants. 
The roots of the plants select from the soil-moisture some sub* 
stances nnd rejects others. The peach tree root mouths know just 
what will make peaches. The potato root mouths know just what will 
make potatoes. Iris plants know just what will make Iris blooms 
look so beautiful. 
We sometimes make mistakes in what we eat, but the plants never 
do. i 
The materials which make up the plants are the same as those, 
that make up our bodies. They existed in the world ages before wflj 
were born. We take them in by the food and drink we consume.' 
Even those that had lived before, like meat, vegetables and fruits were 
dead when we ate them. 
Then a mysterious something laid hold on them and by the process 
ses of digestion, assimilation and cell building made them alive and 1 
gave them places in our living bodies. 
Our bodies eat, drink, breathe and eliminate waste, and every one 
of the eight billion cells in our bodies must also eat, drink, breathe 
and eliminate waste or disease begins. 
The life processes of both plants and animals are essentially the 
same, and the living matter in a squash is as much alive, as the liv¬ 
ing matter in a human being. 
All living things have been made from dead things. But it takes 
life to produce life, and there is no reasoning or no device that caA 
tell how life is or was produced. It still remains the secret of the ages! 
I remember the story of the Indian chief at the log council house at 
Canandaigua. He had been invited to a seat on one of the rudf 
benches. He electrified those who heard him reply: “The sun is my 
father, the earth is my mother, I will recline on her bosom.” Suifi- 
ing his actions to his words he sat on the ground. 
This untutored Indian chief, at the beginning of history in On¬ 
tario County. N. Y., had given expression to the great fact of nature 
—the Sun is our father, the earth is our mother. And thinking these 
things over I returned to work digging some Iris plants for an order 
going to Utah. 
The Rochester Iris 
Several years ago I purchased the surplus plants of a grower who 
included a number of unnamed seedlings, claimed to have origin¬ 
ally been sent out by a prominent Iris grower. . 
After testing these unnamed seedlings through a number of sear 
sons of bloom, I selected one of such outstanding merit as to be worthy 
I thought, of the beiit name I could find for it. The color is definitely 
one to be quickly observed and liked. It may be described as deep 
lilac purple with a light claret-red overtone. 
In the selection of a name for this marvelous Iris I was guided by 
my research work in the Rochester Public Library, particularly in 
the Fine Arts Division- where can be consulted one of the largesf 
and most comprehensive collections of books and pamphlets on gar¬ 
dening and allied subjects to be found outside of State and National 
institutions. 
In looking over the color plates I foun(l what I think is a fair 
replica of the color of the new Iris. It is called Lilac Purple. Somfe 
further consideration brought the thought that as Rochester is known 
far and wide for its great display of Lilacs at Highland Park, it won 1(1 
be appropriate to name this charming Iris; “Rochester.” 
To name a flower for a city has many precedents, to mention only 
a few: Los Angeles has a gladiolus ; Boston has a Chrysanthemum); 
Cordova a Tulip and Bagdad a Dahlia. A lovely rose also has beep 
given the name “Rochester.” 
No plants of the Rochester are to be sold this year. A dozen clumpy 
can 1 nen in the rock garden, blooming with the other early bloom¬ 
ing varieties 
The finding of this new Iris borders on romance. Its merits were 
■ recognized by the originator, its beauty was overlooked by several 
growers. It is another incident demonstrating, “The stone which the 
builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” 
It seems that fate or accident or “the breaks of the game" has 
much to do with determining the outcome of events. On June 7L 
177(1, Richard Henry Lee introduced into Congress the famous resof 
lution - Resolved, that these united colon ids are, and of right ought 
to be, free and independent states,” as the introducer Lee would 
have been chosen to draft what has become immortal as the Declara¬ 
tion of Independence, but sudden illness at home called him away 
and Jefferson received the honor in his stead. Lee returned however, 
in time to sign the instrument. 
You are cordially invited to come over to the Iris Gardens and 
enjoy the beauty of the Rochester Iris. 
Doronicum 
Nobody knows why this lovely daisy-like yellow flowered perennial 
was named Doronicum. The name itself is the Latin form of thfe 
name the plant bears in its home country — Arabia. Usually a plant 
name means something. Leopards Bane is another name given to 
Doronicum and the one doesn't carry any more meaning than the 
other. 
As the Doronicum is always in bloom for Mother’s Day and one of 
the first to give a golden atmosphere to the spring time garden pietjf 
lure. I have, in recent years been referring to Doronicum as Mother’s 
Day Golden Daisy. It is a long name but it expresses a fact in an 
inspiring manner. 
Its golden yellow flowers are borne on stalks two feet to three feet 
high, usually one flower to a stem carried well above the foliage. On 
thrifty plants the flower stalk may branch near the base of the stem 
and additional flowers will be produced on the side branches. 
Occasionally some favored plants will develop flowers all through 
the late summer and early fall. ffi 
Individual flowers are about two inches broad the ray petals being! 
the richest golden yellow. The button like center is called a disci 
and it is made up of two hundred to three hundred florets or disfl 
flowers. In color these are golden yellow. 
Mother’s Day Golden Daisy is one of the very best flowers for 
cutting and combines exceptionally well with all types and colors of 
tulips. These flowers may well be liberally grown wherever spriiifl 
flowers are to be used. ■ 
Doronicum plants are fifteen cents each, or ten plants for $1. 
Water Iris- 
100 for $4, 1000 for $35 
I have possession of perhaps the largest meadows of PseudacoruB 
and Versicolor Irises in the world, consisting literally of idllionB 
of plants. I can fill all orders promptly, no matter how large T’iS 
Water Irises are being used to beautify moist locations on Wtaudfl 
marshes, along ihe margin of lakes, ponds, brooks, water garden* 
The; will also thrive on uny type of upland soil. 
Pseudacorus -Brihi golden yellow. Tall, graceful 
Versicolor--Light blue. Does not grow as tall as Pseudacorus 
$ .10 
.'Ji 
30 Iris Plants 
Perhaps the greatest offer ever made in the fioweri 
plant business is this: For one dollar I will send ,-tj 
( thirty) varieties, my selection, of the Iris deserit ■. 
this folder, all labeled and postpaid. This group v 
make a charming Iris garden for you. 
All plants are sent postpaid direct to your mail bo 
The Rock Garden 
You will pardon me, I hope, for becoming excited when I talk about 
my small rock garden. I change the most of its plant material sev¬ 
eral times during the growing season. In it I try numerous experi¬ 
ments with plants. Many color combinations are tested. It is here 
I learn what to do and what not to do with plants. It’s a great school 
and I like to be an humble pupil to nature. 
The weather was so warm the fore part of January that I com¬ 
pletely replanted the rock garden. I brought in from the fields more 
than a hundred clumps of early flowering varieties of Iris, and 
planted them among the rocks, trying to so place them that the colors 
of the blooms would not “clash." I must admit that all colors have a 
pleasing appeal to me and I like them however placed. No doubt 
that when I become better color educated I will be a more successful 
garden artist. 
Color has appealed to all peoples in all ages of the world. The 
Sabaean city of Ecbatana, founded 800 B. C. had at its highest point 
a temple of the sun inclosed by seven concentric walls, each rising 
toward the center. The outmost or lower wall was painted white, then 
in higher succession, black, scarlet, blue, orange, silver, while the 
innermost wall was gilded. As the walls rose in graduation toward 
the center with their gorgeous hues, an enchanting sight was pre¬ 
sented, particularly in the morning sunlight. 
Of course the clumps of early blooming Iris in the rock garden are 
not placed as systematically as the walls of Ecabatana which pre¬ 
sented a definite and arranged color scheme, but on a much smaller 
scale will afford opportunity to note the effect of various color com¬ 
binations. 
The form of the rock garden is an irregular triangle. The outer 
rocks marking the outline are placed closer together than on the 
interior, and between these rocks I have planted four score clumps of 
the two-toned blue Leopold dwarf Iris. When in bloo- \ these Irises 
will make a “blue streak” frame around the garden. i early spring 
it is my intention to plant just inside the outline roeKS about twelve 
dozen plants of Achillea Tomentosa or golden yarrow. These will 
bloom a little later than the Leopold Iris but in time to make a 
golden outline for the last blooms to develop on the early blooming 
varieties of Iris making up the first floral display of the season in 
the rock garden. 
Of course the last display of the year in the rock garden will be 
nearly a hundred varieties of fall blooming hardy chrysanthemums. 
This also will be a gorgeous sight. 
Variety in Flowers 
Wm. Cowper the English poet did two things that fixed his name in 
the memory of mankind. His lines written to his mother’s portrait 
have caused more tears to be shed than any other English poem. 
Cowper also wrote the most frequently quoted words in the English 
language: “Variety is the spice of life.” 
Other men have given expression to the same thought but not in 
the same unforgetable way. 
Pliny the Elder who was often heard to say that there was no book, 
however bad, from which some good could not be got, and who made a 
practice of jotting down important facts or observations, had this to 
say about variety: As land is improved by sowing it with various 
seeds so is the mind by exercising it with different studies. 
A few years ago while reading the essays of Lord Bacon I came 
across his statement that “Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced 
with variety.” 
A man who combines the accomplishments of poet, diplomatist and 
man of the world can say things with ease and grace and that ac¬ 
counts for Matthew Prior’s crystal like saying that “Variety alone 
gives joy.” 
Variety is the spice of a book’s table of contents, just as it is the 
spice of a young man’s list of neckties. Apple cake with raisins is 
delicious, but one wouldn’t want it too many times in succession. 
No where so much as in a flower garden does variety furnish life 
and give joy. And with no flower can so much variety be had as the 
Iris. As is many times stated there are more than four thousand 
named varieties of this glorious flower. 
Just see the changes or color combinations you can secure with 
only a few varieties. It is so astonishing as to almost take your 
breath away. 
If you have three varieties of Iris you can have six changes; if 
four varieties you may have 24 changes, while twelve varieties give 
you as many as 479,001,600 changes or combinations. Should you 
secure my Alphabet Collection of 26 varieties of Irises I am wonder¬ 
ing if the string of figures representing the number of possible 
changes wouldn’t reach a distance of several miles. 
Rodney 
Every great crisis creates a noble hero to meet it. A few years ago 
I went over the route followed by Paul Revere on his memorable ride 
from Charlestown to Lexington and Concord to notify the Minute 
Men that the British were coming and seemed to catch the thrill of 
those stirring events which they who take that trip a're said to ex¬ 
perience. 
But a ride that has always aroused me to enthusiasm and admira¬ 
tion was that eighty-mile ride of Caesar Rodney at the time of the 
signing of the Declaration of Independence. He had been secretly 
informed that the Delaware delegation was split and that his vote was 
needed that Delaware might be saved and the Colonies declared a 
unit. He arrived in the hall where Congress was in session just as 
the name “Delaware” was being called. “I vote yes,” said Rodney, 
as he sank into his seat utterly exhausted. 
Now let us learn of the heroic stuff that made him a great hero. 
Had he been in the full vigor of manhood his performance would 
not have been so spectacular. Although a military man and in Con¬ 
gress he had been obliged temporarily to go home owing to the in¬ 
creasing growth of a cancer which had already destroyed one side 
of his face. Suffering from the fever of his malady, he rose from 
what his physicians thought was his death bed and dashed off into the 
rain and mud—and won. 
The Rodney Iris is a self-toned light blue of good habit and a good 
variety any place you give it. One plant, 14 cents; four for 42 cents. 
Lovely Lady 
The new seedling Iris given the name Lovely Lady last year, has 
met with considerable favorable comment—and some unfavorable 
criticism. Some observers maintain this new Iris should have been 
dug up by the roots and thrown away. Others are firm in the belief 
that the Lovely Lady Iris is well adapted to style and place as a 
variety for the rock garden and the border. It is neither a dwarf nor 
an intermediate but a medium size Iris in plant and flower and blooms 
late, thus prolonging the Iris season. 
Being a derivitive of Quaker Lady it was an easy step from that 
name to Lovely Lady and thus did the new Iris receive its name. Like 
its mother, Quaker Lady, it is a blend of pink, yellow and heliotrope, 
overlaid and infixed in the petals with red and orange. I will present 
a mother plant of Lovely Lady to the person who will adequate]'- 
describe the coloring of its petals. A group of these plants can be 
found near the lily pool. The price for this year is fixed at $50 per 
mother plant. 
The Pot of Gold 
You have heard of the pot of gold, which according to legen i 
hangs at the rainbow’s end. A story of the Buttercup relates that a 
boy started in search of this gold. He wandered for years vainly seek 
ing it. When old and wrinkled, he one night had a vision of a beautifr, 
woman who told him where he would find the gold, but because in 
his selfish searching he had not brought good cheer to anyone, she 
also told him that the gold would never bring him happiness. Win , 
he awoke, the old man saw a rainbow and at its foot was the gold 
In his selfishness he strode away to hide his newly found treasure 
But a fairy followed him and cut a hole in the bag, permitting the 
pieces of gold to drop to the ground and where they dropped, there 
sprang up the Buttercup with its fascinating golden yellow color. 
All plants are sent postpaid direct to your mail box. 
1 
Morning Splendor 
More people have admired the alluring beauty of Morning Splendor 
than any other American produced Iris. It is a mosaic of red and 
yellow and purple in a muii.lt. ic. of gorgeous tints and hues and 
shades, showing the artistic genius ot nature and the magic of crea¬ 
tion in a single bloom, an earthly throne of the g.c-v of God. 
These are illuminating words but Morning Splendor deserves them 
all. 
Its name alone would keep it growing in the gardens of the world 
as long as flowers are appreciated. Morning is always looked forward 
to with longing and pleasure. And did you ever watch the sun come 
up, slowly, gorgeously, brilliantly? It is the greatest, most marvelous 
splendor of creation. It means a new chance. J. Marion Shull was 
inspired when he named this new seedling “Morning Splendor.” 
Morning Splendor has “the most brilliant red effect yet seen in 
an Iris.” Certainly when the morning sunlight shines through its 
petals its beauteous velvety iridescent coloring, charms the beholder 
and the eye is lothe to cease its glances at such a rainbow of floral 
loveliness. Nor does its beauty diminish as the morning advances 
into the day, and when evening comes the slower red rays of the 
departing sun seems to add a halo to the charm of Morning Splendor. 
The painters describe the color of Morning Splendor as petunia- 
violet for the standards and raisin-purple for the falls. But with the 
morning sunlight dancing off or shining through its silky petals, it 
presents the most brilliant claret red (some say ruby-crimson) yet 
seen with the tall bearded Irises. It is a color that lingers in the 
memory. 
A plant is as much alive as is a human being and like human beings 
some plants have more life and pep than others. As a plant Morning 
Splendor is above medium size, hardy, vigorous and prolific of strong, 
tall, well- branched stems bearing numerous blooms. The top blooms 
will, under congenial conditions reach up to four feet. 
The flowers are large late blooming of fine form, and of heavy 
substance, lasting over a long period. It is also very good when used 
as a cut flower. 
When nearly but not quite opened, the standards form a gothic 
arch. The falls are flaring. This combination of form, size and color 
produces a flower with a near approach to the perfection of beauty 
It’s no wonder that Morning Splendor has been given a rating by 
the experts of more than ninety points, a position reached by only 
a few Irises. Societies of flower lovers and Iris growers have cov¬ 
ered it with gold and silver medals, awards of merit, ribbons and 
testimonials. The humble gardner and those in high places have vied 
with each other in their efforts to do it justice. 
The artistic arrangement of flowers has always been regarded an 
6i6ssnt accomplishment. You cannot assernble any two flowers that 
will blend with such entrancing harmony as the dark red-purple 
Morning Splendor and the ravishing array of pink, tan and various 
shades of yellow found in the Old Gold Iris. Dark colors must be 
relieved with softer colors and these two blend and come together 
~ s ,., h ^ n , , and ^ love ’. Either separate or united Morning Splendor and 
Old Gold are irresistible. 
For twenty-five cents I will send you one good plant each of 
Morning Splendor and Old Gold. Or you may have five plants of 
each—ten plants in all for $1. 
The Rules of Transplanting 
There really are only two rules in transplanting perennial flower- 
mg plants: roots in the soil and stems and leaves in the air 
Iris are usually Planted with the thick part, or rhizome,’ just cov¬ 
ered out of sight and the plants spaced six to ten inches from each 
other as the available ground will permit. If the Iris plants are 
dipped in water just before being placed in the soil, no further water- 
ing will be necessary. 
Plants like violas, dianthus, aquelegia, doronicum, etc., should be 
transplanted slightly deeper than they grew. Keep these well watered 
until established. 
